Written evidence submitted by BioIndustry
Association (BIA) (SV61)
I am writing on behalf of the Biolndustry Association
(BIA), the voice for innovative healthcare focused bioscience
companies in the UK, with regard to the impact of the proposed
restrictions on Tier 4 migration and the Home Affairs Select Committee's
inquiry.
The BIA understands that it might be helpful for
the Committee to gain an industry perspective on one specific
area under consideration—whether a policy for foreign students,
where they were allowed to work off campus only on weekends, would
be practical.
The majority of the BIA's members are SMEs (Small
and Medium Enterprises) and many of them do take on work experience
students and university placements, either on an ad hoc or regular
basis. While the BIA has not engaged with its full membership
on this specific question, there are industry examples relating
to the practicality of this proposal which the Select Committee
might find of use in its deliberations.
Specifically, this question was asked of Syntaxin,
an Oxford based biopharmaceutical SME, which is developing a strong
and unique biologics platform that delivers a pipeline of Targeted
Secretion Inhibitors. Syntaxin has, over recent years, made use
of students from a number of universities (such as Edinburgh,
Bath, Sheffield, Leiden) which enables the company to leverage
in additional support and workforce as required, or to acquire
a specific skill set, in return for offering an element of practical,
company-based work experience, training and/or study support.
These students are typically with Syntaxin for three to six months,
but they have also supported a number of PhD students who have
been with the company on a part-time basis for the duration of
their studies (three years). Therefore, Syntaxin is well placed
to provide an SME view on student placement issues.
On being asked how a policy regarding foreign students,
where they were allowed to work off campus only on weekends, would
be viewed, Syntaxin have informed us that such a policy would
be impractical to operate and defeat the purpose of a student
placement. These placements are only of use to industry and, therefore,
only offered if they are available during normal working hours,
given the nature of research and the need for supervision for
safety and training reasons. A weekend-only availability would
not satisfy these requirements, would offer little to a company
and would, therefore, preclude these students from working at
Syntaxin.
Student placements within industry are an important
part of the skills development process, with short and long term
benefits both for the students themselves and for industry, and
others who rely on the provision of highly qualified and highly
skilled researchers. The above example demonstrates the need for
these placements to remain practical and flexible to industry's
needs with, if possible, light touch policy and regulation.
If it was considered helpful, the BIA would be happy
to engage with members further on this specific issue.
March 2011
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